Over the course of its historical past, Bloober Staff hasn’t at all times had one of the best observe, so the skepticism that its remake of Silent Hill 2 was being met with within the lead as much as its launch wasn’t notably shocking, nor did it really feel totally unjustified. However simply because the skepticism was warranted, so, too is all of the reward that’s now being showered on the sport. Silent Hill 2 has launched worldwide for PS5 and PC, and as critics and audiences have made abundantly clear by now, the survival horror remake has taken everybody abruptly and, in opposition to all odds, knocked the ball out of the park.
After all, whenever you do get a significant new survival horror remake – particularly one that’s pretty much as good as this one – it’s solely pure that you simply’re going to see it in contrast with 2019’s Resident Evil 2, which has been deemed the benchmark in opposition to which all horror titles and remakes typically have been measured in opposition to in recent times. So how precisely does Konami and Bloober Staff’s Silent Hill 2 reimagining examine in opposition to Capcom’s trendy horror traditional? Right here, that’s precisely what we’ll be speaking about.
COMBAT AND BOSS FIGHTS
Clearly, fight is an space the place historically Silent Hill has by no means been at its strongest, and one the place Resident Evil conversely often has been. We’re not going to beat across the bush here- Resident Evil 2 undoubtedly comes out on high so far as the fight is worried. There’s a strong selection within the weapons on provide (particularly the unlockable ones that add oh a lot to the replay worth), every weapon comes with acceptable heft and oomph, the unimaginable gore system makes every motion really feel unbelievably visceral, and the boss fights are among the finest we’ve seen within the style.
However although Silent Hill 2’s fight isn’t fairly on the identical degree, it is higher than many would have anticipated. Similar to within the unique, the fight isn’t actually the purpose in Silent Hill 2’s remake, but it surely undoubtedly does really feel surprisingly good, because of tense encounters in opposition to excellently designed enemies. The boss battles, too, have seen notable enhancements over the unique sport, which is one other huge level within the sport’s favour.
STORY AND STORYTELLING
Once more, it’d be silly to not merely lower to the chase right here, as a result of there’s actually not a lot of a contest right here. When it comes to story and storytelling, Resident Evil 2 can’t actually hope to compete in opposition to Silent Hill 2. The latter is a psychological horror masterpiece, one which tells a daring and unforgettable story that’s as prone to go away you an emotional wreck as it’s to sit back you to your very core. Heavy themes are dealt with brilliantly because of strong writing, and particularly with the remake, unimaginable appearing performances. Silent Hill 2 has at all times been thought to be the most effective tales ever advised in a sport, and the remake actually does justice to that kind of reward.
Resident Evil 2, alternatively, will not be a sport that cares too a lot about its story. After all, for followers of the franchise specifically, there’s lots to love right here, from the setting of Raccoon Metropolis to the introduction of fan-favourite characters like Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, to different beloved personalities like Ada Wong, William Birkin, and others making their mark as properly. However even at its absolute best, Resident Evil 2’s story is practical– one thing that’s meant to facilitate the gameplay and design, somewhat than the opposite manner round. There’s an enormous, big gulf between what it does and what Silent Hill 2 accomplishes.
PUZZLES
Now we get to a class the place the 2 video games we’re are far more evenly matched. Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil 2 are each among the many most distinguished, foundational titles for the survival horror style, and certain sufficient, they each do put numerous emphasis on puzzles. What’s extra, the way in which each remakes strategy their puzzles can be somewhat similar- each carry over lots from the originals, but additionally make modifications and additions to maintain the expertise contemporary whereas nonetheless feeling trustworthy, in order that even returning followers gained’t merely stroll by ever problem that’s posed.
There’s a case to be made that just by advantage of being what it’s, Silent Hill 2 ought to take the cake right here. As a collection, Silent Hill tends to be extra targeted on puzzles than Resident Evil tends to be, and Silent Hill 2 specifically is a sport that closely focuses on lengthy puzzles that span prolonged sequences of the sport. Positive, the identical will be mentioned about Resident Evil 2, and sure, the puzzles there are properly designed as well- however Silent Hill 2 does give far more weightage to that a part of the gameplay expertise, and it does present, simply because it does with the fight in RE2.
LEVEL DESIGN AND EXPLORATION
Once more, that is an space the place Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2 are fairly evenly matched, not solely due to how good each of them are, but additionally as a result of each have very related design philosophies. Each titles emphasize slow-paced and deliberate exploration, encouraging gamers to step by step comb by areas, backtrack to older areas, maintain a watch out for shortcuts, and the like. Exploration stays extremely compelling in each titles, to say the very least.
Resident Evil 2 does edge it, nevertheless, in all probability as a result of it does a greater job balancing the rewards that it provides out for exploration. From ammo and well being to crafting sources, gadgets, notes, and even collectibles, there’s only a bigger and extra satisfying number of issues that Resident Evil 2 rewards gamers’ want to discover with. The extent design can be usually simply a lot tighter and extra meticulously thought out all through the complete expertise, from the RPD constructing to NEST and extra.
SETTING
It’s subsequent to unimaginable to separate Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2 on this specific class. On one hand you will have the city of Silent Hill, a seemingly quaint American city that’s perpetually coated in an ominous mist, and by no means fails to torture the those who roam its streets with reflections of their very own twisted traumas and experiences. From its narrative and thematic depth to the sturdy visible aesthetic it’s related to, the city of Silent Hill is an unimaginable setting, and at its absolute best within the Silent Hill 2 remake, the place it comes alive with attractive visuals and an extremely degree of consideration to element.
Not many horror settings would be capable to compete one thing like that- however then you will have Resident Evil 2, which ranks among the many higher echelons of the style on this specific space. The RPD constructing is an iconic horror setting, one that’s expanded and dropped at life in spectacular trend within the 2019 remake. Outdoors of RPD, you additionally get to discover Raccoon Metropolis itself, which is equally as iconic (if no more so) in addition to different glorious crafted areas within the dirty underground sewers of the town and the horrifying Umbrella lab generally known as NEST. Which of the 2 video games you favor is probably going going to be a matter of style and choice, however purely for its thematic depth, in addition to how visually excellent and conceptually distinctive it’s, we’re going to must go along with the city of Silent Hill right here.
ENEMIES
The roster of enemies that you simply cross paths with could make or break a survival horror sport, and each Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2 do lots to impress on that entrance, and each video games boast among the most iconic enemy designs we’ve ever seen, from Silent Hill 2’s Pyramid Head to Resident Evil 2’s Lickers, amongst others. And although the narrative context surrounding them does give them an inherent enhance, the enemies in Silent Hill 2 are additionally not as enjoyable to struggle because the enemies in Resident Evil 2 are, because of the latter’s strengths in combat- which arguably provides the latter a bonus on this space.
particular person enemies in RE2 additionally showcases the sport’s strengths on this entrance. For starters, you clearly have Mr. X, a relentlessly terrifying foe who stops at nothing in his makes an attempt to terrifying the residing daylights out of you. He stalks you for important chunks of the sport, and listening to his booming footsteps echoing by the halls of RPD by no means loses its affect. Then you will have the horrific Lickers, the nightmarishly mutated William Birkin (and the various kinds he takes all through the video games), and hell, even common zombies, that are among the most decrepit and creepy zombies we’ve ever fought in a sport. From their visible design to the distinctive threats they pose to how partaking they’re to tackle from a gameplay perspective, Resident Evil 2’s enemies and enemy sorts need to take the win right here.
SCARINESS AND ATMOSPHERE
An clearly essential class for survival horror video games, and one the place each Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2 succeed- although to totally different levels. That each video games are nice at scaring gamers is plain. Scariness can, after all, be extremely subjective, however each remakes do a wonderful job of constructing pressure and environment, and making gamers really feel on edge, whether or not that’s by atmospheric lighting, well-crafted environments, masterful pacing, impeccable sound design, or what have you ever.
If, nevertheless, we had been to choose one between the 2 video games because the winner on this class, Silent Hill 2 would in all probability edge it. The darkish corridors of RPD, the shrieks of the Lickers, the endless pursuit of Mr. X- all of that stuff is undeniably horrible. However from the city’s oppressive fog to the narrative weight that it injects into the expertise to the emphasis it locations on gradual, palpable psychological horror somewhat than standard scares, Silent Hill 2 succeeds at delivering a a lot longer-lasting model of chills.
TECH
Once more, each video games deserve huge props on this space. Capcom has constantly accomplished an unimaginable with with Resident Evil video games within the tech division, particularly within the collection’ RE Engine period, whereas Bloober Staff, too, has impressed with Silent Hill 2- which isn’t shocking, as a result of that is the one space the place the studio has had an inarguably glorious observe document through the years. Admittedly, any sport that will get picked as a winner between these two would achieve this on a razor skinny margin, if that.
If we have to separate hairs in that trend, nevertheless, we’d in all probability go along with Resident Evil 2. Silent Hill 2 does an extremely job with recreating the oppressive and atmospheric areas of its eponymous setting, and does so with a formidable degree of consideration to element. However Resident Evil 2 is only a lower above, even 5 years on from launch. One of many largest causes for that’s the unimaginable gore system on show in Capcom’s masterpiece. From the way in which the zombies’ our bodies step by step disintegrate with injury to the morbidly attractive explosions of crimson that you simply get to witness whenever you blast an enemy within the head with a shotgun from shut vary, that stuff provides closely to the expertise, particularly given the style we’re working in.
OVERALL
Name it a cop out, however hey- we’re 4 to 4 to this point. Calling this competitors a tie would really feel low-cost although, as a result of relying on which of the 2 horror types offered right here you favor, it’s very probably that you simply’re going to have a transparent choice between the 2 video games as properly. However that’s the thing- Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil 2, regardless of how related they’re in so some ways, are additionally finally very totally different sorts of experiences, and which of the 2 you find yourself liking extra will rely closely on precisely what you’re in search of.
If what you need is a sport that makes a story affect and makes an attempt to unsettle you not solely with standard horror strategies (which it actually doesn’t lack in, thoughts you), but additionally extra cerebral and psychological ones, Silent Hill 2 is completely going to be the way in which to go. James Sunderland’s story is a surprising one and one that you simply completely ought to expertise, and Bloober Staff’s remake does a spectacular job of retelling that story, whereas additionally increasing on the unique title’s gameplay expertise.
If, nevertheless, the factor you might be in search of is a extra mechanically dense expertise, Resident Evil 2 can’t actually be overwhelmed. Don’t get me mistaken, Silent Hill 2 isn’t any strolling sim- removed from it. However the pure survival horror gameplay on provide in Resident Evil 2 is unmatched, with every thing from the stellar degree design and gory fight to the superb boss fights and, after all, the relentless Mr. X stalker sections coming collectively in good concord to ship a nonstop thrill trip. Personally, I are inclined to go for the latter, so Resident Evil 2 would have my vote. However for Silent Hill 2 to be in the identical dialog as Capcom’s masterpiece is unbelievably excessive reward in and of itself.
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